Rangpur farmers take to perching method to counter pest attack

RANGPUR, Apr 21: The farmers at different upazilas in Rangpur district are getting interested in using perching method instead of toxic pesticides in protecting their paddy fields from pest attack. As a result the method has gained much popularity in the region.
Due to rampant use of toxic pesticide the ecology is now under threat. Consequently many indigenous species of fish have already disappeared and some other are now on the verge of extinction, sources said.
In order to get rid of the adverse situation DAE field level officers began motivating the farmers to apply the eco-friendly perching method and the farmers have already got good results out of  using the method during the current Boro season.
DAE official sources said perching is a natural pest management method of paddy crops which requires erection of some 'T' like structures with either bamboo stick or dry jute stick on the paddy field. In such way the perching structure can be erected so that birds can sit on it comfortably and catch insects from the paddy plants. Erection of at least 7-8 perching is required in 1 bigha of land to get satisfactory result, sources also said.
Expressing satisfaction Akbar Ali a farmer of Mogolkot village under Mithapukur upazila, told The Financial Express earlier the farmers could not think of any alternative way to control pest except pesticide. But DAE showed them that pest can also be controlled naturally without using any insecticide. Farmers had to spend about Tk 300 to Tk 350 for purchasing pesticides for one bigha of land before but they are now able to save money using the effective natural method, he added.
"I got remarkable results after using perching method on two bigha of paddy fields," said Gani Mia, another farmer of Fulchouki village under the same upazila. Witnessing his success many farmers of his area have also shown interest in adopting the method, he also said.
Deputy Director of DAE Rangpur, Feroz Ahmed said, they have no way but to promote such natural method to protect the soil fertility and ecological balance which are now under serious threat due to indiscriminate uses of pesticides.  They are trying their best to bring all the paddy field of the district under perching method so that the farmers can produce paddy without applying insecticides, he added.